A banged up pace bowler and a once forgotten man have led Australia to a history Ashes whitewash with a comprehensive 281 win at the SCG on Sunday afternoon.

Showing resolve their counterparts could only dream about, paceman Ryan Harris and opening batsman Chris Rogers – a centurion maker in back to back Tests - stole the show on the final day of the Ashes series to officially end England's shambolic tour of Australia.

The English slumped to a new low – out for 166 in 32 overs - in a horrific batting performance which has been repeated over the course of the five-match series.

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Man of the match Harris starred with the ball taking 5-25 in a dynamic 10 over spell which followed Rogers' smashing 119 to record his highest score.

Again rookie Ben Stokes provided some fight for the tourists, belting 32 off 16 balls including a punishing Nathan Lyon for 20 runs in an over. But any joy was fleeting as they failed to reach 200 runs in each innings.

Ryan Harris enjoyed dismissing Ian Bell. Photo: Brendan Esposito

Opener Michael Carberry (43) failed to capitalise on another good start and his dismissal, two balls after the tea break to Mitchell Johnson sparked another collapse. Carberry, whose bat literally broke in half following a Harris ball, was out at 4-87 before England lost Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow and Scott Borthwick to be 7-95 with Lyon picking up two scalps.

Stuart Broad made 42 before being bowled by Harris as skipper Michael Clarke nabbed the final catch at slip to complete the series romp.

A day after leaving a ball to be trapped leg before, England captain Alastair Cook matched his first innings score of seven to be caught behind by Brad Haddin with Johnson picking up the scalp.

Having been restricted to two runs from 32 balls in the first innings, No.3 Ian Bell tried not to be bogged down. His aggression saw him move to 16 runs quickly, but he lasted only 19 balls, falling to Harris with England at 2-37.

The woes for England began on the morning of day three with Rogers and George Bailey making a strong start helping Australia to a 447 run lead after being bowled out for 276.

Rogers – who resumed play on 79 – combined for a 109 sixth wicket partnership with Bailey before the Tasmanian fell for 46 in what was his likely final Test innings.

Backing up: Chris Rogers celebrates his second century of the match. Photo: Anthony Johnson

Bailey's position in the Australian team to tour South Africa in February is uncertain after he failed to make any real mark on the series since making his debut in the first Test.

By contrast, Rogers is now a certain starter to take on the world No.1's as he reached his century from 143 balls. After failing in the first Test, Rogersscored half centuries in the second and third Tests before hitting 116 in front of his home crowd at the MCG to cement himself at the top of the order.

After Bailey's dismissal, Rogers was joined at the crease by Haddin who – as he has done all series- tired to take on the English attack. Haddin, who passed 3000 Test runs, was bowled by Borthwick, for 28 as he aimed for back to back boundaries.

Fifth Test, Sydney - Day Three

Johnson's stay was short-lived, making four off three balls before being bowled by Stokes.

Australia lost 3-21 after lunch with Rogers, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle falling. Rogers looked at total ease against the English attacking before spooning a catch back to Borthwick off the leg-spinner's own bowling.

Harris (13 off 10 balls) and Siddle (four) fell chasing quick runs leaving Nathan Lyon six not out – meaning the Australian No.11 was not dismissed in any of his five innings' this summer.

The unlikely Borthwick (3-33) took the most wickets, with Broad, Stokes and James Anderson taking two each.

108 comments

The Australian cricket team are the "Manly" of world cricket. You're either a supporter or you hate them. I hate them. I'm an Australian-born Australian yet cannot bring myself to support, cheer or barrack for a team that plays the game the way they do. Whilst I've had to sit through the humiliation of the soon-to-be-over Ashes series, I do look forward to the day Clarke and Co. come up against a team of players that will show that the game can be played well without the crap that Johnson, Warner and Clarke go on with.

Commenter

GG

Date and time

January 05, 2014, 3:26PM

'plays the game the way they do' What do you mean by that? They play to win, how do you play?

Commenter

Peter Stanton

Date and time

January 05, 2014, 5:09PM

Although it's early days, it appears that we have a contender for Sad Sack of the Year.To be clear, I'm talking about you, GG.

Commenter

Get A Grip

Date and time

January 05, 2014, 5:10PM

Is that you, Mickey Arthur?

Commenter

Five Zip!

Date and time

January 05, 2014, 5:28PM

Go Manly!!

Commenter

steve

Location

sydney

Date and time

January 05, 2014, 5:31PM

GG isn't australian. He said it himself, he's had to sit through the humiliation. Another sad Pom who's backside has been kicked one too many times.

Commenter

AN

Date and time

January 05, 2014, 5:54PM

GGAw diddums,Wouldn't mummy let you play with those other big bad boys in the street in case you got your darling little knees dirty and "Oh my God" skinned. "Straight into bed for you for you and no kindie for you tomorrow my boy or you're in danger of growing up to be a man and we don't want that do we?"

Commenter

rext

Date and time

January 05, 2014, 6:11PM

I agree, I can't stand them either. A team of tattooed-bogans whose cricket skills dramatically outweigh their sportsmanship and brainpower. My kids play cricket and I see no leadership or role models for them, and no one in the side that I can truly say deserves admiration as a person. Winning is NOT everything.

Commenter

Elijah Baley

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

January 05, 2014, 6:18PM

So who do you barrack for in the cricket, GG?

Commenter

L

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

January 05, 2014, 6:22PM

Elijah BaleySo you've seen them on TV a few times as I don't suppose you would watch people you so strongly disapprove of very often yet you're an expert on their intelligence, ability to think and social worth? Good on you for being just one more uninformed expert dill!

5 Jan
What will be the image that captures this summer of wonders? A blue helmet whiplashing to dodge a Mitchell Johnson fireball? Brad Haddin's edgeless blade slapping another drive over mid-off? The arms of Michael Clarke in the quarter-to-three position, arranging fielders into blind spots that will, within an over, conjure a catch?